When the match between Man City and Real Madrid at the Etihad was about to end, the away team's fans sang mocking lines to the captain of The Citizens: "Pep Guardiola, stay". Los Blancos fans wanted the Spanish strategist to stay longer to continue... losing many times to Real Madrid.
The second leg of the Champions League round of 16 closed with a 1-5 result for Man City against their rivals. Pep has entered his 10th year leading Man City, which is a very long time to build, develop, achieve glory and restructure an empire. His contract with the Etihad Stadium team is valid until 2027 and if a farewell is said this summer, it is not too surprising.
In the recent series of poor performances (winning 1/5 matches in all competitions), Pep always says "we will return next season". This may be a meaningful statement from the 55-year-old coach, but there is no certainty that he will not choose to leave.
Last season, I felt this season would be better and everything would be the same. I have a feeling that things will be even better in the future.
Today, the team was defeated with a score of 1-5, so that feeling may not be correct. However, I understand the players very well, know how high their level is. This year's season is too fierce and the team still has a lot to improve. It's lucky that in the end, the players still played football with self-respect" - Pep Guardiola shared.
Pep said Man City will continue to fight in the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup, thereby gaining momentum to return to the Champions League next season. When asked about whether to stay with the team in the 2026-2027 season or not, Pep always said "we". He always considers himself a part of Man City. Before the Manchester team, Pep used to coach Barcelona and Bayern Munich but has not been in any team for as long as Man City currently.
Like Barcelona and Bayern Munich, as long as I work, I will always be a part of the club. I have a very strong connection with Man City because I have been here for 10 years. I am a part of this place" - Pep shared.
Although Pep has not made a decision yet, the majority of Man City fans hope he will stay because the current generation of players is on a development path and needs a veteran to lead. Throughout this season, there have been many times Man City lost their inherent destruction, but the players are always wholeheartedly for the team and for Pep Guardiola himself.
The Premier League is always changing, not just season by season, maybe week by week. That is also why Pep has to constantly think, sometimes being labeled "thinking too much" after each defeat. Cases like Omar Marmoush, Nico O'Relly or Matheus Nunes show the flexible improvisation of the 55-year-old coach. Pep still has a lot of work to do, not just enough after 2023 to easily say goodbye.
There are many new stars who have arrived from the 2025 summer transfer window and are waiting for Pep to nurture or develop. In addition, when key players return after injury, the captain of The Citizens also has enough force to race in the final stage of this season with the goal of winning at least 1 title.
With Man City players, they are playing for many things, including respect for Pep Guardiola. When Bernardo Silva was sent off very early in the second leg of the round of 16 against Real Madrid, Erling Haaland and his teammates still played hard to the fullest and created countless storms. A team that lost 0-3 in the first leg, lost an early player in the second leg but still rushed to attack with 10 men, that is the greatest pride for Pep Guardiola.
Real Madrid fans at the Etihad have reason to celebrate, but Man City also. They are not too sad about the defeat, on the contrary, they see the efforts and self-respect of the players. Defeat is very normal after winning countless glories. If the players still play football with such self-respect, next season will definitely be different.
The only person who knows how far this team will go is Pep Guardiola. He needs to stay to continue the mission of reviving this empire once again.
